To my dearest friends, colleagues, and fellow activists here in the Philippines and abroad,
At 3AM of March 11 (Wednesday), I woke to the sound of heavy pounding on the main door of the house where I was staying with six (6) patients under my care. I got up quickly as I heard a male patient outside being beaten, pleading, “sir, huwag niyo akong saktan, huwag niyo akong patayin”.
Seconds later, the front door was forced open and a man in full fatigue uniform, carrying a long firearm entered. I, along with two (2) female patients/health workers was ordered to lie on the floor facedown as a rifle was pointed at us. The men in uniform forced open a locked room as I shouted for them to stop destroying private property.
We were forbidden to look up. A man, his face covered with a bonnet, pointed at each one of us – uttering names I had never heard before. I shouted out my name, identifying myself as a doctor, and declaring that there were patients in the house suffering from hypertension and lung disease (COPD), and chronic renal disease, and another with kidney stones, among others. The young man who pleaded for his life has a pacemaker attached to his heart.
Several persons in civilian clothes, who came with the raiding team, were ordered to move out; and then we 3 females were moved to the living room. Again, we were made to lie face down. Through stolen glances, we saw three men first bring in a brown bag – which was not ours – into the room they had broken into. They then brought in several of our bags which were originally in another room.
After a while these men were ordered out and we 3 females were made were told to sit on the sofa. A table was already set up in front of us. An official identified himself as Major Arvin Hasmillo of CODG Tarlac (the major is actually a Lt. Col.) Warrants for our arrest were read to us as my male patients were brought in in handcuffs and made to kneel. Despite my repeated pleas for them to bring in a 56-year old farmer with hypertension. It took them more than 30 minutes to do so.
Repeatedly, I asked that these armed men and women in uniform produce my patients’ medicines which they urgently needed to take but all Lt. Col. Hasmillo could say was he had 100 personnel with him. Aside from his team from CIDG-Tarlac, SWAT, SAF, PRO-COR and the AFP’s NOLCOM, he could not identify the personnel who took the medicines we needed, especially as some already had left.
The CIDG personnel proceeded to layout a bag, my patient’s ID, cash, cellphones, as well as other belongings. I protested as they also laid out a grenade and 3 guns (later on I found out were 2 pistols and 1 long rifle). “Hindi po sa amin yan. Wala po kaming ganyan. Mga pasyente ito.” It was after that these things were already displayed on the table that two barangay kagawads and the barangay captain came in. Three of my patients, including one who had standing warrants, were later charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosive.
I, a community doctor who has been rendering services in the Cordillera for the past 25 years, along with my 6 patients, are victims of State brutality. State terrorism continues and is even worsening under President Marcos Jr.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is being tried by the ICC for crimes against humanity but state violence against the Filipino people continues. The AFP has set up camps and detachments all over the Cordillera region. Their troops occupy barangay halls, school premises, and residential areas. Residents are prevented from going to their rice fields, forests, and other production areas. They live in constant fear as AFP and PNP troops conduct combat operations in their midst. Meanwhile, large-scale mining operations and dam construction for energy corporations are welcomed with open arms.
I appeal to you – my family, friends, colleagues, and all concerned Filipinos and citizens of other countries – to denounce the human rights violations committed against us by government forces. I appeal particularly to my fellow health workers to add your testimonies about the Philippine health situation, especially the corruption and militarization that hinder the delivery of services to those who need it most.
We need your support as we face our continued incarceration.#